What Not to Eat: IHOP’s Breakfast Combo is Too Much

IHOP’s Country Fried Steak & Eggs is one extreme breakfast

“It’s time to have it all!” chirps the IHOP Web site. “When it comes to breakfast, why choose just one thing? Our breakfast combos put your favorites together on one plate, so you can dig into everything you love—from eggs to steaks to pancakes!”

That’s right. IHOP’s Country Fried Steak & Eggs isn’t one thing. It’s “an 8 oz. fried beef steak smothered in country or sausage gravy, then served with two eggs, hash-browns and two buttermilk pancakes.” Nothing like a mix of fried red meat, fried eggs, fried potatoes, and a load of refined carbs (from the breading, pancakes, syrup, and potatoes) for breakfast.

IHOP isn’t kidding. The meal does have it all—all the calories (1,970—about a day’s worth), all the saturated fat (30 grams—your full quota for the next day and a half), all the sodium (4,240 milligrams—3 days’ worth), and all the sugar (11 teaspoons—close to two days’ worth), if you use a typical quarter cup of syrup. Think of it as six McDonald’s Egg McMuffins sprinkled with 8 packets of sugar.

No worries. As the Web site says, IHOP is the place “Where it’s all about flavor. Not about limits.”

They probably wouldn’t charge too much to add some French toast, waffles, sausage, and bacon if you ask nicely.

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Notice: Content at this site is not intended to provide medical advice, which should be obtained from a qualified health professional. Any products evaluated or sources cited may contain information that is now outdated. Readers should check product labels to ensure any nutrient content has not changed since our review and still meets the criteria established by NutritionAction.com.